Community Foods breaks ground in West Oakland
Construction on West Oakland’s longanticipated People’s Community Market is finally under way, following years of starts and stops.
Just as notable, there’s a new name: Community Foods Market.
Brahm Ahmadi has been working to bring the project to fruition for well over a decade. In 2016, working with the East Bay Asian Local Development Corp., Ahmadi was able to close escrow on the West Oakland property, located at Myrtle Street and San Pablo Avenue. Last weekend, the groundbreaking finally happened.
Now, Ahmadi says, things should move swiftly; the plan is to open in October.
As for the name change, it’s something they’ve been contemplating for a few years in response to community feedback. “We realized that for some people, it wasn’t immediately obvious that it was intended to be a grocery store or sell food,” says Ahmadi.
For a full-service grocery in an area that is considered a food desert, it’s essential to implement a business and brand that has broad appeal to all ages, and all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, he says.
“We want to make sure this business conveys a message of inclusivity across a broad spectrum of community. That’s important to me,” Ahmadi says.
The 14,000-square-food market will feature a full-service deli, butcher and seafood counter, packaged and convenience goods, along with a produce department that’s being spearheaded by Bill Fujimoto, formerly of Monterey Market.
The space will also feature the Front Porch Cafe, which in addition to serving food will act as a social hall for events and educational activities. It’s yet another way to promote a strong sense of community, says Ahmadi, in a neighborhood that doesn’t just lack access to groceries, but also has a dearth of destinations for live entertainment and sit-down restaurants.
Next up on Ahmadi’s to-do list: launching a third direct public offering to help raise capital for inventory and operating costs. The first two rounds successfully raised about $1.7 million and went toward permitting, site acquisition and construction costs.